[Chrislong]

Yep I agree with Dan, something must be wrong externally to the GTB.

Are the solder tabs, or battery bars in contact with carbon or anything else conductive?

Id get it back to Novak pronto, including the motor this time (with a polite letter to explain why), and when the replacement arrives - wire it up on the bench, perhaps just put the motor in the car with no pinion on so it doesn't buzz around on the bench - but wire it up initially with full length wires, on the bench - test it, set up the end points and make any profile changes, check it again - then de-solder, mount in car, cut wires to length and analyse everything. Gaffa tape any possible chassis shorts, and id consider it pretty much ready to go again...

I can;t imagine a dodgy receiver or servo can blow an ESC, but if you have spares - as a precaution id fit those too.... no harm..

Chris